pitiful

Adjective
US[pit-uh-fuhl]/ˈpɪtəfəl/3 syllables
Synonyms: patheticpitiabledeplorabledistressinglamentablesadsorryhaplessmiserablemisfortunatepiteouspoor

Open English WordNet

Adjective (3)

  1. inspiring mixed contempt and pity“their efforts were pathetic”“pitiable lack of character”“pitiful exhibition of cowardice”Synonyms: patheticpitiableOpposite estimableSimilar contemptible
  2. bad; unfortunate“my finances were in a deplorable state”“a lamentable decision”“her clothes were in sad shape”“a sorry state of affairs”Synonyms: deplorabledistressinglamentablesadsorryOpposite goodSimilar bad
  3. deserving or inciting pity“a hapless victim”“miserable victims of war”“the shabby room struck her as extraordinarily pathetic — Galsworthy”“piteous appeals for help”“pitiable homeless children”“a pitiful fate”“Oh, you poor thing”“his poor distorted limbs”“a wretched life”Synonyms: haplessmiserablemisfortunatepatheticpiteouspitiablepoorwretchedOpposite fortunateSimilar unfortunate
Word of the day · Nov 12About this word
diligentadjective

What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz

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Webster's Dictionary (1913)

Pit′i·ful adjective

1. Full of pity; tender-hearted; compassionate; kind; merciful; sympathetic.

The Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.— James v. 11.

2. Piteous; lamentable; eliciting compassion.

A thing, indeed, very pitiful and horrible.— Edmund Spenser

3. To be pitied for littleness or meanness; miserable; paltry; contemptible; despicable.

That's villainous, and shows a most pitiful ambition in the fool that uses it.— William Shakespeare

Synonyms: Despicable; mean; paltry. See Contemptible.

— Pit′wb-a1′>′i·ful·ly, adverb — Pit′wb-a1′>′i·ful·ness, noun

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54

The Devil's Dictionary

PITIFUL, adj. The state of an enemy of opponent after an imaginary encounter with oneself.
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